South America remains a relatively small export market for the Western Cape, although there was some export growth to Brazil, Mexico and Argentina last year.According to a spokesman for Wesgro, Brazil ranked 51 in the top 100 export markets for the Western Cape, with a total export value in 2021 of R522 958 627. This represented growth of 61.29% compared to 2020. Mexico is currently ranked 62, with a total export value in 2021 of R309 420 176 (60.31% year-on-year growth), and Argentina is at 86. The total export value in 2021 was R82 911 577, representing growth of 46.98% over the previous year.Trade with Peru, which is ranked at 91, grew 12.8% during the period under review.This brings the total export value to R70 840 920.“Exporters face similar challenges to those which relate to exporting to many other regions in the world, including North America, but when it comes to South America there is the added complexity of country-specific import regulations, tariffs, and a lack of connectivity to the South American region.”
